To test the hypothesis that inhibition of PKR may prevent muscle atrophy, the present study investigates the effect of a small molecule ATP-site directed inhibitor of PKR, 8-[1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl) meth-(Z) ylidene]-6,8-dihydro-thiazol [5,4-e]indol-7-one (Jammi et al, 2003), on cachexia in the MAC16 model. The gene discussed is EIF2AK2; the disease is Cachexia.